55 Gallon Tank Restart After Ich Outbreak

oh wow, Fm's top off at 6-7"
I was considering getting 1 for my 32 gallon and felt it wouldnt be appropriate for them, your tank is fully stocked again...
how long did you acclimate them for?

 

oh wow, Fm's top off at 6-7"
I was considering getting 1 for my 32 gallon and felt it wouldnt be appropriate for them, your tank is fully stocked again...
how long did you acclimate them for?

at least 45 minutes while I rearranged my slate to try to make them caves for territory

 

ok keep an eye on your parameters

 

 

good luck to ya

 

thank you sir!

 

ar they a pair?

 

I got a male and a female. I don't know a ton about their social behavior but hopefully they will pair up. I honestly don't care about breeding them. if it happens it happens but at least they should get along!

 

hmmm I would be concerned about your stock. Not only are you overstocked but you are endangering them as well by getting a couple. They are aggressive and will defend and stress all your fish.

 

yeah I wouldnt mix them with my cichlids and they can hold their own barbs are feeder fish compared to mbuna

 

hmmm I would be concerned about your stock. Not only are you overstocked but you are endangering them as well by getting a couple. They are aggressive and will defend and stress all your fish.

you mean during spawning, since I got a male and a female?

 

you mean during spawning, since I got a male and a female?

yes. that is IF they pair, not all will pair up.

 

give them a bit what's your stocking list again? I can see them haveing every fish in your tank pushed to one side of the tank all stressed out one day you may only have 2 firemouths in there

 

give them a bit what's your stocking list again? I can see them haveing every fish in your tank pushed to one side of the tank all stressed out one day you may only have 2 firemouths in there

3 Bala Sharks
10 Tiger Barbs
1 Rainbow Shark
2 Firemouth Cichlids

right now all the fish are acting completely normal, like they always have. I know it hasn't been long but it's better than them having started attacking immediately.

 

yes. that is IF they pair, not all will pair up.

sounds like I don't want them to pair up then huh?

 

I don't think i'm that overstocked...

3 bala sharks, say they reach 9" apiece = 27"
1 rainbow shark = 5"
10 tiger barbs @ 2" apiece = 20"
2 firemouth cichlids @ 5" apiece = 10"

that's 62" of fish.

 

55 galons is 55 inces of fish not 62 balas get bigger then 9 inches go mts get that 300 gallon tak you need

 

haha, wish I could.

 

I don't think i'm that overstocked...

3 bala sharks, say they reach 9" apiece = 27"
1 rainbow shark = 5"
10 tiger barbs @ 2" apiece = 20"
2 firemouth cichlids @ 5" apiece = 10"

that's 62" of fish.

The 1" per gallon "suggestion" doesn not work for fish this size. It is intended to be a guideline for smaller schooling type fish. Where are they going to swim?????

 

The 1" per gallon "suggestion" doesn not work for fish this size. It is intended to be a guideline for smaller schooling type fish. Where are they going to swim?????

Yup, I'll agree. The 1" per gallon is only for small fish. For example. 10 1" inch fish like neons would do fine in a 10 gallon tank but 1 10" Oscar would not survive in a 10 gallon tank. its' all about swimming space

 

Woah. Those firemouths will get nasty. You may have got a male and a female, but it's a 1 in 6 chance any Cichlid will pair up. If not, you'll have aggression no end between them, they may kill each other, or the other fish as they grow.

You're probably sick of hearing this, but as your fish grow, they may as well have been crammed into a shoe box. The balas will have no turning room, the room to swim, the firemouths will get nasty as they spawn (if they do, if not, multitude of other issues)
I know one members GBR's (peaceful, nice fish) stressed out another fish so much during spawning it died. Imagine was a 5" firemouth will do to a tiger barb.

I seriously hope you either re-home or upgrade the balas. Stunting kills fish slowly and painfully.

As Cesch said, It's allllll about swimming space. If you were 16" big, and only had 12" of turbning room, you wouldnt be happy. Like being 6' tall but in a 5' space to turn.

Good luck with the firemouths.

 

My firemouth killed many fish, including an 8 inch sailfin pleco. Best of luck with yours... hopefully they are better behaved than mine was.

 

My firemouth killed many fish, including an 8 inch sailfin pleco. Best of luck with yours... hopefully they are better behaved than mine was.

EIGHT INCH! And plecos are the Elephants of the fish world O_O (I mean thick skinned and big, I'm not aware of gratuitous tusks LOL!) What a mean fish. I agree that they are lovely, but stlighty evil...

 

I might would consider just giving the bala sharks away, but how would I know that they are going into better conditions (a larger tank) than I have them in now? even if I give them to the pet store they are likely to sell them to someone who has the same size, or even smaller tank than me. the store I got them from told me, and they advertise it, that the balas need a minimum of 40 gallons. and anyone could go up there and say "I have a 75 gallon tank" when they really only have maybe a 20 or 30 gallon tank.

if I put them on craigslist or aquabid, the same thing goes. someone could say they have a 150 gallon tank, but am I actually going to follow them home and see it for myself? so you see my situation right? it's not just about me being selfish or irresponsible. I have the fish, they are fine for now, and they honestly would probably go into a worse situation if I were to get rid of them.

sooo... on my way back in the front door I noticed a worm on the pavement. out of boredom I decided to drop him in the tank...

let's just say I should have split the worm into multiple pieces, and perhaps this wasn't the best idea i've had.

 

lol stolen

 

it was quit entertaining. for probably 2 minutes before that 1 tiger barb had it hanging out of it's mouth while the other 9 gave chase.

towards the end of the video you can see the bala shark and firemouth split it in half. they each got a nice chunk for themselves.

experimenting, took the plants out.




I can't decide if I like it better with or without them.

 

Good morning Swiftzer. I think your tank looks fine with or without the plants and your fish are beautiful. I like the video in post #109. Thanks for sharing!
Ken

 

The 1" per gallon "suggestion" doesn not work for fish this size. It is intended to be a guideline for smaller schooling type fish. Where are they going to swim?????

I totally agree. It must be used with common sense or it is useless!

I might would consider just giving the bala sharks away, but how would I know that they are going into better conditions (a larger tank) than I have them in now? even if I give them to the pet store they are likely to sell them to someone who has the same size, or even smaller tank than me. the store I got them from told me, and they advertise it, that the balas need a minimum of 40 gallons. and anyone could go up there and say "I have a 75 gallon tank" when they really only have maybe a 20 or 30 gallon tank.

if I put them on craigslist or aquabid, the same thing goes. someone could say they have a 150 gallon tank, but am I actually going to follow them home and see it for myself? so you see my situation right? it's not just about me being selfish or irresponsible. I have the fish, they are fine for now, and they honestly would probably go into a worse situation if I were to get rid of them.

If you put them n craigslist, you could contact the potential buyer and ask for a photo of the tank. I don't know if this will work because I am no familiar with craigslist at all(never used it) but it is an idea.

 

I totally agree. It must be used with common sense or it is useless!



If you put them n craigslist, you could contact the potential buyer and ask for a photo of the tank. I don't know if this will work because I am no familiar with craigslist at all(never used it) but it is an idea.

well they are on craigslist right now. I'll do my best to send them somewhere nice and roomy.

 

i'm starting to get really attached to my firemouths. they are pretty much the only south american cichlid that really caught my eye.

mine are starting to get more color now that they've been in the tank about a week, and maybe it's my imagination but i've been back to the store they came from and it seems like mine are already noticeably bigger.

they are always active and they greet anyone who comes near the tank. I didn't expect them to act this way. I thought they would spend a lot of time either hiding or sitting still near a rock.

 

Yeah! Sounds like you found a fish you are really fond of, and they have found a forever home. Good for you, good for the fish!

 

thanks. now if I could just rehome my bala sharks...

the firemouths are going to get good size and when they do they should be really colorful and will become an awesome showpiece fish.

 

I am very actively trying to rehome my bala sharks. I don't really want to have to have two tanks. I want to get everything I want into one tank and have them peacefully coexist. this obviously can't be achieved with african cichlids being involved at all.

I had no idea just how much I would absolutely love the firemouths. they are so beautiful and active. I don't really like convicts or any of the other SA cichlids other than the keyholes I had mentioned here much, much earlier. they are 100% peaceful and would do great.

i'm thinking once the balas are gone the firemouths and a pair of keyholes would make excellent showpiece fish. maybe even some rams. I have just 100% put the idea out of african cichlids out of my head.

I wouldn't mind having another firemouth or two once the balas are gone, and to add in a pair of keyholes. I could keep the 10 tiger barbs in there and would be more than willing to remove the rainbow shark if neccessary.

 

all cichlids have their own personalities even the angels I like how they know who you are they know me over anyone in my family cause I feed them maybe one day I 2 will have firmouths when mts hits me once more I do like them!!!

 

all cichlids have their own personalities even the angels I like how they know who you are they know me over anyone in my family cause I feed them maybe one day I 2 will have firmouths when mts hits me once more I do like them!!!

I fell in love with mine. I can't wait til they get bigger and get more color. I want to get others I just don't like convicts or any others that much. there are a couple i'd consider but I think they are too aggressive. keyholes are very peaceful and I just want to have a little variety that's why i'm thinking of adding a pair.

 

I agree with gmen
I just got a jelly bean today and am amzaed at how cute the little thing is! he isfull of personality and is not like the regular fish that whenever you get close he goes away. He actually coems up to you and stares lol

 

ah come on but a colored up female cons looks really pretty

 

yeah then the begging begins my angel even does it yay for all cichlids

 

decided to return the anubias because of how expensive they were.




with that same money, I went to another LFS and got all this... amazon sword, micro sword, anacharis, moss, and I forget what the ones in the corners are called. all for under $20.

 

looks nice